The INFORMAS healthy food environment policy index in Brazil: Benchmarking, current policies, and determining priorities for the future

Abstract

SummaryIntroductionObesity and non‐communicable diseases are the most important cause of death and inability in Brazil and worldwide. Public policies are an important strategy to prevent obesity. This study analysed the scope of Brazilian public policies for preventing and controlling obesity using the INFORMAS/Food‐EPI protocol.MethodsThe public policies evaluation was conducted based on the INFORMAS/Food‐EPI protocol. Experts from academia, civil society, and government assessed the level of implementation of food policies compared with international best practices and proposed new actions to be developed nationally. The protocol consisted of five phases: (1) A comprehensive review of the implementation of food environment‐related public policies; (2) validation with experts; (3) comparison of the national actions with the international best practice and due to the level of implementation; (4) list a set of actions to improve the current policies; and (5) evaluation of the actions due to their importance and achievability.ResultsBrazilian actions were focused on monitoring, leadership, governance, and resources and financing domains.ConclusionThe results will provide elements to support and improve the national policies that aim at the promotion of a healthy food environment and obesity prevention.